Breathing device



'2 Sheets-Sheet l J. P. FAY' BREATHING DEVLCE INVENTOR P F625/ ATTORNEYS Filed Jan. 51, 1955 Lfd/276.5

Aug. 7, 1956 Filed Jam` 5l, 1955 2 Sheets-Shawl'l 2 FQ F u Q d fn N m fr; UW m mm WN 'n um Q. 5;; Il@ Q N w mm H I :s lh Ln mw w f w F 1NVENTOR Md/1765 Way ATTORNEYS United States Patent O BREATHING DEVICE James P. Fay, Norwalk, Conn. Application January s1, 195s, serial No. 485,020

12 claims. (ci. rs1-64) The present invention relates to apparatus for regulating the delivery of a gas and particularly of a breathable gas. While the regulator of the present invention is useful for breathing at high altitudes or in contaminated atmospheres, it is herein illustrated as applied to a diving device wherein it has particular utility in supplying air to a diver with ease at pressures commensurate with the pressure of the surrounding water.

It is an object of the present invention to provide an apparatus which is of a simple yet rugged construction and is easily operated. a f v f Itis a further object of the present invention to provide a control structure which is versatile inproviding for a reserve air supply and also providing a means for flushing the breathing line should it be necessary.

It is another object of the invention to provide a regulator having a minimum number of parts which can be readily manufactured and assembled, and which is safe in its operation. p

- Still another object of the invention is to provide a regulator having direct action control of the valves and an ease of operation thereof.

Another object of the invention is to provide a novel valve actuating mechanism whereby ease of breathing at all depths is achieved so as to prevent excessive fatigue on the part of the diver.

Other features and advantages of the 'invention will be apparent from the specification and claims when considered in connection with the drawings in which:

Figure 1 shows a longitudinal, sectionalview of the regulator.

Fig. 2 is a sectional view taken along lines 2-2 of Fig. l.

Fig. 3 is a sectional view taken along lines 3--3 of Fig. l.

Fig. 4 is a fragmentary sectional view showing the device in reserve operating position.

Fig. 5 shows the device mounted on an air cylinder and connected to the breathing mouthpiece.

Fig. 6 is a fragmentary view of the casing showing the normal and reserve slots therein.

While the regulator of the present invention is adaptable to a single stage operation, it is herein illustrated as applied to a two stage operation and comprises a housing 10 having a generally tubular shape and provided at its ends with end bells 11 which are secured thereto and have hose connectors 12 at the ends thereof to be connected to the inhalation or breather hose 13 and the exhalation or exhaust hose 14 which extend to the usual mouthpiece 15, as shown in Fig. 5. The housing is divided into an inhalation chamber 16 and an exhalation chamber A16a by means of a flexible diaphragm 17 of neoprene or the like material suitably secured therein to extend across the housing. The exhalation chamber 16a is provided with apertures 1S opening to the water or surrounding medium so that the diaphragm has impressed thereon the pressure of the water. A usual flap type valve-19 extends across the connector 12 to permit, exhaled air to .pass into the 2,757,680 Patented Aug. 7, 1956 'ice chamber to be exhausted through the apertures 18 while at the same time preventing the flow of the water from the chamber into the hose 14.

On one side of the housing intermediate the ends thereof there is provided an aperture Z0 into which is mounted a fitting 21 having a valve housing 22 threaded therein. The tting is secured by any suitable means to the housing. As herein illustrated, the tting has a threaded neck 21a extending through the aperture 20 and a locking nut 23 is threaded on the neck to clamp the fitting in position. Threaded into a bore 22a in the valve housing is a stemoperated spring-actuated valvef24 of the Schrader type for controlling the passage of gas, preferably air, through the bore in the valve housing when the valve housing is connected to a supply of air under pressure. In the illustrated form of the invention the supply of air comprises a cylinder 25 having a projecting neck 26 provided with a port (not shown) in the side thereof and controlled by a hand valve 27. The regulator is connected to the neck so that the fitting overlies the port with the bore 22a in communication therewith. The regulator is secured to the neck by a' U-shaped saddle or yoke 28 having its ends 23a interlocked with shoulders 29 on the tting and is clamped in position by a clamping screw located in the bow of the U and pressing the neck into fluid-tight engagement with the valve housing.

The inner end `of the fitting which projects into the housing 10 has a neck 2lb to which one end of an expansible chamber or bellows 31 is connected so as to extend into the inhalation chamber as shown in Figs. 1 and 4. The other end of the bellows is provided with a valve carrier 32 which has a portion 32a which extends into the bellows and has a bore 32b therethrough which receives a second stem-operated, spring-actuated valve 33 of the Schrader type which controls the flow of air from the expansible chamber into the inhalation chamber. The valve carrier has va portion 32C which extends above the valve and is slotted at 34 and has an enlarged bore 35 therein in which is mounted an apertured plug 36 which forms the seat for `one end of a compression spring 37, the other end of which is seated in a cavity 38 formed in the housing wall opposite the aperture 20, which spring normally urges the expansible chamber into a collapsed position.

vIn order to control valve 33, so as to maintain a balanced pressure in the inhalation chamber, the present invention provides an actuating lever 39 which extends through the slot in the valve carrier and has a portion 39a adapted to engage the stem of the valve to open the same when the lever is pivoted about the edge 36a of the plug 36 in accordance'with variations in the pressure in the inhalation chamber. The pivoting of the lever is accomplished by providing an extension 39b which is connected to the diaphragm in any suitable manner to be moved thereby. In the herein illustrated form of the invention, the extension projects through the diaphragm and a backing plate 40 secured to the diaphragm and is secured thereto to move therewith by being soldered to the backing plate, as indicated at 41, so that when pressure in the inhalation chamber is reduced by the inhalation of gas therefrom, the resulting unbalance of pressure will cause the diaphragm to move to the dotted line position shown in Fig. l, and pivot the lever 39 into engagement with the stem of the valve to operate the valve to open the valve and permit air from the expansion'chamber to enter the inhalation chamber to rebalance the pressure therein. As the pressure in the chamber is reduced by the passage of air therefrom into the inhalation chamber, the spring 37 will cause the collapse of the chamber and the end of the portion 32a of the valve carrier disposed within the chamber contacts an operating bar 42 slidable in a sleeve 43 projecting from the neck 2lb on the fitting and moves it into engagement with the stem on the valve 24 carried by the valve housing 22 to open the valve. The bar 42 is out of round and preferably has at sides which form passages to permit air from the storage tank to ow readily intothe expansion chamber torrestore the` pressure therein.

While thepressuresin the supply and in the expansion chambers may be selected at any desired value, I have found that an initial air supply of 2500 pounds p. s. i. pressure in the tank and an expansion chamber pressure of 300 pounds plus the pressure of the surrounding medium functions satisfactorily.

A feature of the invention resides in the control and versatility of the device of the present invention whereby a reserve air supply can be readily established and used as required and whereby the inhalation hose may be readily hushed by air to remove water or the like therefrom. This is accomplished, according to the present invention by providing a control lever 44 cooperating with the extension 39h on the actuating lever. In the illustrated form of the invention the control lever is a T-shaped lever and` is movably mounted on the housing, preferably by having one end 44a of the bar of the T pivoted to the housing as shown in Fig. 2. The other end 44b of the T is positioned in a slot 45 in the housing and is normally held against the end of the slot by a spring 46 secured within the housing as shown in Fig. 2. The stem of the T extends through a second slot 47 in the housing and has an aperture 48 therein` for receiving a pull cord or other operator, not shown, for pivotally moving the control lever in use.

The control lever is provided with an aperture 49 in the midportion of the bar thereof, as shown in Figs. l and 2, through which the extension 3911 of the actuating lever projects. With the control lever in the normal position, as shown in full lines in Fig, 2, it will be noted that the actuating` lever is permitted a limited movement so that it will enable the diaphragm to function to move the lever 39 to control the valve. However, when the pressure in the supply tank falls below the 300 pounds pressure necessary to move the expansion chamber back to its normal position, the end of the actuating member will engage the bottom edge 49a of the aperture and will prevent further supply of air from the supply means. This will notify the user of the device that he has reduced the pressure in the supply tank to 300 pounds, which air supply is sufficient to permit him to return to the surface. The operator then moves the control lever out of the` normal slot 45 into the reserve slot 45a oset therefrom wherein the control lever is moved to the dot-and-dash position shown in Fig. 2, in which position the lever is held against the inclined wall at the end of the reserve slot 45a by the spring 46. In this reserve position, as shown in Fig. 4, the bottom edge is disposed out of blocking engagement with the actuating lever and thediaphragm is free to function as described above to control the passage of the air into the inhalation chamber directly by valve 33, as the air passes from the supply through the now open valve 24.

It will be seen, therefore, that there is provided a simple, yet effective reserve supply control in accordance with the present invention.

Under some circumstances it may be desired to flush water or the like from the inhalation tube, even though a balanced condition exists in the inhalation chamber. This is accomplished by locating the upper edge 49b of the aperture in such a position that as the control lever is moved clockwise, as shown in Fig. 2, it will, in either normal or reserve position, engage the actuating lever and actuate the valve 33 to permit air under pressure to be forced from the expansion chamber into the inhalation chamber and through the inhalation tube to clear it.

lf desired, safety means may be provided for preventing` damage to the regulator in the event that the valve 24. controlling the` passage from the air to the supply means should stick. In the form of the invention herein illustrated, this means comprises a pin 50 positioned in the bore in the plug 36 in such a manner that when the pressure chamber is extended abnormally, as would be the case when valve 24 fails to properly shut 0H, it will automatically actuate the valve 33 in the expansion chamber and relieve the pressure therein.

It may be desired in some cases to provide an accessory, such as a watertight. camera case, with an internal pressure to equalize the sea pressure. This may be accom plished by providing a hose fitting 51 on the housing or end bell thereof comnmm'cating with the inhalation chamber to which a hose (not shown) may be attached. The fitting can be closed ofi by a cap 52 when not in use.

From the foregoing it will be seen that the present invention provides for the supply of air from a high pressure source, suitably controlled, to reach the individual at a reduced pressure determined and governed by the pressure of the water or stxrounding lluid medium so that it is supplied to the individual at a pressure commensurate with the pressure of the surrounding fluid medium or water and provides for the establishing of a reserve air supply in` a simple but effective manner.

The device of the present invention is of simple construction having a minimum number of movable parts which may be readily assembled, is direct acting and is easy to operate.

Variations and modifications may be made within the scope of the claims and portions of the improvements may be used without others.

I claim:

1. A breathable gas regulator apparatus comprising a housing; a pressure-responsive diaphragm dividing the housing into an inhalation chamber and an exhalation chamber, said exhalation chamber being exposed to the pressure of a surrounding uid medium; a pressureresponsive, expansible chamber including a bellows connected to the housing; a source of breathable gas under pressure; means securing the housing to said source of breathable gas; valve means connecting the source of breathable gas to 'the expansible chamber; second valve means connecting the expansible chamber to the inhalation chamber; means actuated by the diaphragm for controlling the second valve means to cause gas to pass from the expansible chamber into the inhalation chamber; and actuating means carried by the bellows and directly engaging operating means for said first valve means to open said valve means in response to decrease in pressure in the expansible charnber and movement of the bellows, thereby to cause gas from said source to restore the pressure in the expansible chamber and move the bellows to withdraw the actuating means from valve operating position.

2. A breathable gas regulator apparatus comprising a housing; a pressure-responsive diaphragm dividing the housing into an inhalation chamber and an exhalation chamber; a pressure-responsive, expansible chamber having a bellows disposed in the irralation chamber; a source of breathable gas under pressure; means securing the housing to said source; valve means connecting the source of breathable gas to the expansible chamber; second valve means connecting the expansible chamber to the inhalation chamber, said exhalation chamber being exposed to the pressure of a surrounding tiuid medium and the inhalation chamber having a balancing pressure therein to normally maintain the diaphragm in a predetermined balanced position; a pivoted lever connected to and actuated by the diaphragm for controlling the second valve means in accordance with the variation of pressure in the inhalation chamber due to the inhaling of gas therefrom to cause gas to pass from the expansible chamber into the inhalation chamber to return the pressure therein to balanced relation; and means carried by the bellows and engaging and controlling operating moans for said lirst valve means in.v response `to decrease in pressure in the expansible chamber and contraction of the bellows to directly open the valve and cause gas from said source to restore the pressure in the expansible chamber and extend the bellows to move the means carried thereby out of engagement with said rst valve.

3. A breathable gas regulator apparatus comprising a housing; a flexible, pressure-responsive diaphragm dividing the housing into an inhalation chamber and an exhalation chamber, said exhalation chamber being exposed to the pressure of a surrounding fluid medium; a pressure-responsive, expansive chamber in the inhalation chamber; a source of breathable gas lunder pressure; means securing the housing to said source of breathable gas; valve means connecting the source of breathable gas to the expansible chamber; second valve means connecting the :expansible chamber to the inhalation charnber; means actuated by the diaphragm for controlling the second valve means to cause gas to pass from the expansible chamber into the inhalation chamber; means controlling said first valve means in response to decrease in pressure in and collapse of the expansible chamber to cause gas from said source to restore the pressure in and expand the expansible chamber; and means operating said second valve means in response to abnormal expansion of the expansible chamber.

4. A breathable gas regulator apparatus comprising a housing; a movable pressure-responsive diaphragm dividing the housing into an inhalation chamber and an exhalation chamber, said exhalation chamber being exposed to the pressure of a surrounding fluid medium and said inhalation chamber having a balancing pressure therein to normally maintainthe diaphragm in a predetermined position; a source of breathable gas under pressure; means securing the housing to said source;

`valve means connecting the source of breathable gas to the inhalation chamber; means includingan actuating lever connected to and actuated by the diaphragm for controlling the valve means to causev gas to pass into the inhalation chamber when the pressure in the inhalation chamber falls below the pressure in the exhalation chamber; and a manually movable control lever having means for engaging the actuating lever to move the lever in valve actuating direction independently of the operation of the diaphragm to actuate the valve means to admit gas into the inhalation chamber and force gas from the inhalation chamber at a pressure higher than that of the surrounding uid medium.

5. A breathable gas regulator apparatus comprising a housing; a movable, pressure-responsive diaphragm dividing the housing into an inhalation chamber and an exhalation chamber, said exhalation chamber being exposed to the pressure of a surrounding iluid medium; a source of breathable gas under pressure; a tting securing the housing to said source; a bellows chamber connected to the tting and disposed in the inhalation chamber; means urging the bellows chamber tocontracted position; valve means on the iitting connecting the source of breathable gas to the bellows chamber to expand the bellows against the action of said urging means; a second valve means carried by the bellows chamber opposite said rst valve means and connecting the bellows chamber to the inhalation chamber; and means actuated by the diaphragm for controlling the second valve means to cause gas to pass from the bellows chamber into the inhalation chamber when the pressure in the inhalation chamber falls below the pressure in the exhalation chamber, the decrease in pressure in the bellows chamber enabling the urging means to cause the contraction of the bellows chamber and move a portion ofthe second valve means to actuate said first valve means to cause gas from `said source to restore the pressure in and expand the bellows chamber and move the portion of the second valve means out of actuating relation with the iirst valve. l

6. A breathable gas regulator apparatus comprising a housing; a pressure-responsive diaphragm dividing the housing into an inhalation chamber and an exhalation chamber; a pressure-responsive, expansible chamber in the inhalation chamber; a supply of breathable gas under pressure; means securing the housing to said source; valve means connecting the source of breathable gas to the expansible chamber; second valve means connecting the expansible chamber to the inhalation chamber, said exhalation chamber being exposed to the pressure of a surrounding fluid medium, which pressure is less than the pressure of the supply of breathable gas, and the inhalation chamber having a balancing pressure therein to normally maintain the diaphragm in a predetermined balanced position; a pivoted actuating lever connected to and actuated by the diaphragm for movement into and out of engagement with the second valve means to control said valve means in accordance with the variation of pressure in the inhalation chamber due to the inhaling of gas therefrom to cause gas to pass from the expansible chamber into the inhalation chamber to return the pressure therein to balanced relation; means controlling said first valve means in response to decrease in pressure in the expansible chamber to cause gas from said supply to restore the pressure in the expansible chamber; a manually movable control lever having a normal pressure and a reserve position on the housing and having an aperture therein cooperating with the actuating lever for limiting the movement of the actuating lever in the valve actuating direction for each position of the control lever; and means for releasably maintaining said control lever in cach position.

7. yA breathable ygas regulator apparatus comprising a housing; a flexible, pressure-responsive diaphragm dividing the housing into an inhalation chamber and an exhalation chamber; a pressure-responsive, expansible chamber in the inhalation chamber; a supply of breathable gas under pressure;.rneans securing the housing to said source; valve means connecting the source of breathable gasto the expansible chamber; second valve means connecting the expansible chamber to the inhalation chamber, said exhalation chamber being exposed to the pressure of a surrounding lluid medium, which pressure is less than the, pressure of the supply of breathable gas, and the inhalation chamber having a balancing pressure therein to normally maintain the diaphragm in a predetermined balanced position; a pivoted actuating lever connected to and actuated by the diaphragm for movement into andl out of engagement With the second valve means in4 accordance with the variation of pressure in the inhalation chamber due to the inhaling of gas therefrom to cause gas to pass from the expansible chamber into the inhalation chamber to return the pressure therein to balanced relation; means controlling said first valve means in response to decrease in pressure in the expansible chamber to cause gas from said source to restore the pressure in the expansible chamber; a manually movable control lever having a normal position on the housing and having means for limiting the movement of the actuating lever in the valve actuating direction to a position in which a reserve supply is provided; and means for shifting said control lever to a reserve position wherein said actuating lever is freed for further movement in a valve actuating direction to actuate said second valve.

8. The invention as defined in claim 7 wherein said control lever is provided with means for engaging the actuating lever in either normal or reserve positions to move the actuating lever in valve actuating direction independently of the operation of the diaphragm to open the second valve to pass gas into the inhalation chamber from the supply when the supply is at a pressure higher than that of the surrounding fluid medium.

9. A breathable gas regulator apparatus comprising a housing; a exible pressure-responsive diaphragm di- 7 viding the housing into an inhalation chamber and an exhalation chamber; a pressure-responsive, expansible chamber in the inhalation chamber; a source of breathable gas under pressure; means securing the housing to said source; valve means connecting the source of breathable gas to the expansible chamber; second valve means connecting the expansible chamber to the inhalation chamber, said exhalation chamber being exposed to the pressure of a surrounding uid medium, which pressure is less than the pressure of the supply of breathable gas, and the inhalation chamber having a balancing pressure therein to normally maintain the diaphragm in a predetermined balanced position; a pivoted actuating lever connected to and actuated by the diaphragm for movement into and out of engagement with the second valve means to control said valve means in accordance with the variation of pressure in the inhalation chamber due to the inhaling of gas therefrom to cause gas to pass from the expansible chamber into the inhalation chamber to return the pressure therein to balanced relation; means controlling said first valve means in response to decrease in pressure in the expansible chamber to cause gas from said source to restore the pressure in the expansible chamber; and a manually movable control lever having means for engaging the actuating lever to move the lever in valve actuating direction independently of the operation of the diaphragm to open the second valve means to admit gas into the inhalation chamber and force gas from the inhalation chamber when the source of breathable gas is at a pressure higher than that of the surrounding uid medium.

l0. A breathable gas regulator apparatus comprising a housing; a flexible diaphragml dividing the housing into an inhalation chamber and an exhalation chamber; a source of breathable gas under pressure; a fitting securing the housing to said source and having valve means for controlling the ow from the source of breathable gas; a pressure-responsive, expansible chamber disposed in the inhalation chamber and secured to the fitting to receive gas from said source as controlled by said valve means; a valve carrier mounted on the expansible chamber and provided with a second valve means connecting the expansible chamber to the inhalation chamber, said exhalation chamber being exposed to the pressure of a surrounding fluid medium and the inhalation chamber having a balancing pressure therein to normally maintain the diaphragm in a predetermined balanced position; means normally urging said expansible chamber toward a collapsed position; a lever pivotally mounted on the valve carrier and connected to and actuated by the diaphragm for controlling the second valve means in accordance with the variation of pressure in the inhalation chamber to cause gas to pass from the expansible chamber into the inhalation chamber to return the pressure therein to balanced relation; and means actuated by the valve carrier in responseV to collapse of the expansible chamber due to decrease in pressure therein to operate said lirst valve means to cause gas from said source to restore' the pressure in and expand the expansible chamber to move the valve carrier out of operating relation with said llrst valve means.

ll. A breathable gas regulator apparatus comprising a housing; a liexible diaphragm dividing the housing into an inhalation chamber and an exhalation chamber; a source of breathable gas under pressure; a fitting securing the housing to said source and having valve means for controlling the flow from the source of breathable gas; a pressure-responsive, expansible chamber disposed in the inhalation chamber and secured to the fitting to receive gas from said source as controlled by said valve means; a carrier mounted on the expansible chamber and provided with a second valve means connecting the expansible chamber to the inhalation chamber, said exhalation chamber being' exposed to the pressure of a surroundingvuid medium and the inhalation chamber having a balancing pressure therein to normally maintain the diaphragm in a predetermined balanced position; means normally urging said expansible chamber toward a co1- lapsed position; an actuating lever pivotally mounted on the valve carrier and connected to and actuated by the diaphragm for controlling the second valve means in accordance with the variation of pressure in the inhalation chamber to cause gas to pass from the expansible chamber into the inhalation chamber to return the pressure thereinY to balanced relation; means actuated by the valve carrier in response to collapse of the expansible chamber due to decrease in pressure therein to operate said first valve means to cause gas from said source to restore the pressure in and expand the expansible chamber to move tbe valve carrier out of operating relation with said tirst valve means; a manually operable control lever pivotally mounted on the housing to move in a plane extendingtransversely of the actuating lever from a normal position to a reserve position `and having an aperture therein receiving the end of the actuating lever with the edge of the aperture in normal position limiting movement of the actuating lever in valve actuating direction to a position in which a reserve supply is provided; and means for shifting said control lever to a reserve position and move said edge out of said stopping position whereby said actuating lever is freed for further movement in a valve actuating direction to utilize said reserve supply.

l2. The invention as defined in claim 1 wherein said bellows has a normal extension in response to a predetermined normal pressure in said expansion chamber, and wherein said second valve means is carried by the said bellows and is rendered inoperative to pass gas to said inhalation chamber when the pressure in the source is below said predetermined normal pressure and the bellows does not return to said predetermined length to thereby give an indication that the pressure in the source is below said predetermined pressure.

No references cited. 

